Bonus jackpots in enriched game play environment

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for a providing a jackpot bonus in a gaming system A jackpot bonus element is generated in an entertainment game portion of a hybrid game and a gambling game in a gambling game portion of the hybrid game is triggered when a player initiates an encounter in the entertainment game with the bonus element. It is then determined if the player wins the gambling game triggered by the player&#39;s encounter with the bonus element in the entertainment game a payout is provided to the player when it is determined that the player has won the gambling game.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of Patent Cooperation TreatyApplication No. PCT/US12/67476, filed on Nov. 30, 2012 which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/629,874 filed onNov. 30, 2011 and is related to PCT patent application No.PCT/US11/26768, filed Mar. 1, 2011, PCT patent application No.PCT/US11/63587, filed on Dec. 6, 2011, and PCT patent application No.PCT/US12/58156, filed on Sep. 29, 2012, the contents of each of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if stated infull herein.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to gaming andmore specifically to providing a bonus jackpot in a bonus jackpot hybridgame that includes both an entertainment game and a gambling game.

BACKGROUND

The gaming machine manufacturing industry has traditionally developedgaming machines with a gambling game. A gambling game is typically agame of chance, which is a game where the outcome of the game isgenerally dependent solely on chance (such as a slot machine). A game ofchance can be contrasted with a game of skill where the outcome of thegame may depend upon a player's skill with the game. Gambling games aretypically not as interactive and do not include graphics assophisticated as an entertainment game, which is a game of skill such asa video game.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methodsfor a providing a jackpot bonus in a gaming system In one embodiment, ajackpot bonus element is generated in an entertainment game portion of ahybrid game, a gambling game is triggered in a gambling game portion ofthe hybrid game when a player initiates an encounter in theentertainment game with the bonus element, a determination is made ifthe player wins the gambling game triggered by the player's encounterwith the bonus element in the entertainment game, and a payout is madeto the player when it is determined that the player has won the gamblinggame.

In another embodiment, a bonus element is a non-player character in theentertainment game portion of the hybrid game.

In one embodiment, the entertainment game portion of the hybrid game isplayed by multiple players and the multiple player compete to triggerthe gambling game by encountering the bonus element within theentertainment game.

In another embodiment, the bonus element roams within the entertainmentgame.

In some embodiments, the bonus element remains at a location and doesnot move within the entertainment game.

In many embodiments, The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus elementappears periodically within the entertainment game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a gaming environment in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an implementation of a bonus jackpot hybridgame in a casino in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another implementation of a bonus jackpothybrid game in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of another implementation of a bonus jackpot hybridgame in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an overview of a credit system of a bonus jackpothybrid game in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a credit flow and management in a bonus jackpot hybrid gamein accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of a bonus jackpot process inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a processing apparatus in accordance an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, systems and methods for operation of abonus jackpot hybrid game are illustrated. In several embodiments, abonus jackpot hybrid game is a form of a hybrid game that integrates abonus jackpot offered to one or more player within both a gambling gamethat includes a real world engine (RWE) which manages the gambling game,as well as an entertainment game that includes a game world engine (GWE)which manages the entertainment portion of a game, and an entertainmentsoftware engine (ESE) which executes the entertainment game for userentertainment. In certain embodiments, the bonus jackpot hybrid gamealso includes a user interface associated with either or both thegambling game and the entertainment game. In operation of a bonusjackpot hybrid game, a player acts upon various types of elements of theentertainment game in a game world environment. Upon acting on some ofthese elements, a wager is triggered in the gambling game. In playingthe entertainment game, using the elements, a player can consume andaccrue game world credits (GWC) within the entertainment game. Thesecredits can be in the form of (but are not limited to) game worldobjects, experience points, or points generally. Wagers are made in thegambling game using real world credits (RC). The real world credits canbe credits in an actual currency, or may be credits in a virtualcurrency which may or may not have real world value. Gambling outcomesfrom the gambling game may cause consumption, loss or accrual of RC. Inaddition, gambling outcomes in the gambling game may influence elementsin the entertainment game such as (but not limited to) by restoring aconsumed element, causing the loss of an element, restoration orplacement of a fixed element. Example elements include enabling elements(EE) which are elements that enable a player's play of the entertainmentgame and whose consumption by the player while playing the entertainmentgame may trigger a wager in a gambling game. In addition, EE may also bereplenished during play within the entertainment game based on anoutcome of a triggered wager. Other types of elements include actionableelements (AE) which are elements that are acted upon to trigger a wagerin the gambling game and may not be restorable during normal play of theentertainment game. Still other elements include collective enablingelements (CEE) which are elements that are shared between two or moreplayers. Various hybrid games are discussed in Patent Cooperation TreatyApplication No. PCT/US11/26768, filed Mar. 1, 2011, entitled “ENRICHEDGAME PLAY ENVIRONMENT (SINGLE and/or MULTIPLAYER) FOR CASINOAPPLICATIONS” and Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No.PCT/US11/63587, filed Dec. 6, 2011, entitled “ENHANCED SLOT-MACHINE FORCASINO APPLICATIONS” each disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a bonus jackpot hybridgame system. A bonus jackpot hybrid game 100 is a game that integratesboth a gambling game and an entertainment game. The bonus jackpot hybridgame includes a real world engine 108 (RWE) module or element thatmanages the gambling portion of the bonus jackpot hybrid game, a gameworld engine 110 (GWE) module or element that includes the bonus jackpothybrid game control logic portion of the bonus jackpot hybrid game andmanages an interface between the RWE and the entertainment portion ofthe bonus jackpot hybrid game, and an entertainment software engine 122(ESE) module or element that executes the entertainment portion of thebonus jackpot hybrid game for user entertainment.

The GWE 108 manages ESE game world (GW) and RWE real world (RW) portionsof the bonus jackpot hybrid game, and includes the mechanical,electronic and software components used to implement the bonus jackpothybrid game control logic to perform various functions for the bonusjackpot hybrid game. For example, various implementations of a GWEinclude the functions of: (a) coupling to an ESE to signal and providecontrols of the GW portion of the game operating in the ESE, (b)including tables for determining game world credits (GWCs) and, ifapplicable, take input from this table to affect the play of the GWportion of the game, (c) coupling to an RWE to determine and amount ofreal credit (RC) available on the bonus jackpot hybrid game and othermetrics of wagering on the RW portion of the game, (d) potentiallyaffect the amount of RC in play, pay tables, odds and other wagershaping factors in operation on the RWE, (e) providing various auditlogs and activity meters, and (f) coupling to a centralized server forexchanging various data related to the player and their activities onthe game.

The ESE 122 is a portion of a bonus jackpot hybrid game that is anelectronic and software system including the control logic that controlsthe playing of video games for entertainment. The ESE accepts input froma player through a set of hand, foot, body, mind and/or visual controlsand outputs video, audio and/or other sensory output to a userinterface. A Personal Computer (PC), Sony PlayStation® or MicrosoftXbox® running a specific game program (e.g. a version of Madden Football'10 or Call of Duty®) would be typical examples of hosts for an ESE. Forthe purposes of this disclosure, the ESE interfaces and exchanges datawith and accepts control information from various components in a bonusjackpot hybrid game, or a system of which the bonus jackpot hybrid gameis a part.

In certain embodiments, the bonus jackpot hybrid game also includes auser interface associated with either or both the gambling game and theentertainment game. In many embodiments, an entertainment game is askill, pseudo-skill or non-skill game, deterministic or interactive,operating on the ESE that provides an entertainment or informativesensory entertainment experience for the player.

In some embodiments, a bonus jackpot hybrid game is a form of a game,designed for use in a physical or virtual casino environment, thatprovides players an environment in that to play for cash, prizes andpoints, either against the casino or in head-to-head modes in acontrolled and regulated manner while being allowed to use their skillsand adeptness at a particular type of game. An example of such a gamewould be a challenging word spelling game, or an interactive action gamesuch as is found on video game consoles popular today, such as aPlayStation®, an Xbox®, a Wii® or a PC based game. In variousenvironments, an interactive entertainment game is provided where skilland chance may coalesce to provide a rich arcade-style gamingexperience, visually exciting and challenging, where players may wagercash, credits prizes and points in order to win more of the foregoing.

RWE 108 functions as an operating system for the gambling game of thebonus jackpot hybrid game 104 and controls and operates the gamblinggame. The operation of a gambling game is enabled by real funds,accretes and declinates real gambling credits based on random gamblingoutcome, and whose gambling proposition is typically regulated by gamingcontrol bodies. In many embodiments, the RWE 108 includes a real world(RW) operating system (OS) 136, random number generator (RNG) 138, level“n” real-world credit pay tables (table Ln-RC) 140, RC meters 142 andother software constructs that enable a game of chance to offer a fairand transparent gambling proposition, and to include the auditablesystems and functions that can enable the game to obtain gamingregulatory body approval.

This is a table and/or algorithms that may exist, and may be used inconjunction with a random number generator to dictate the RC earned as afunction of a wager proposition and is analogous to the pay tables usedin a conventional slot machine. There may be one or a plurality of tableLn-Rc pay tables included in a game design.

In some embodiments, the RWE A portion of a bonus jackpot hybrid gamewhich operates the RC wagering aspects, and includes the mechanical,electronic and software aspects to perform the following non-exhaustivelist of functions: (a) include or interface to an RNG and providecontrol of the RW portion of the game, (b) include table Ln-RC and totake input from this table to affect the wagering activity of the game,(c) couple to the GWE to communicate the amount of RC available on thegame, (d) communicate other metrics of wagering and its status to theGWE, (e) accept input from the GWE as to the amount of RC to be wagered,(f) accept signaling from the GWE in order to trigger execution of anwagering play, (g) include various audit logs and activity meters, (h)couple to a centralized server for exchanging various data related toaccounting of the wagering proposition, the player and their wageringactivities on the game. Certain aspects of an RWE would be analogous tocomponents within a slot machine.

A real world can be considered a physical world of which humans are apart, as opposed to the virtual game world. For the purposes of thisdisclosure, this may also be used in the context of the gambling orwagering portion of the game hybrid game (the RWE) which may or may notinclude an entertainment portion of its own, but whose fundamentaloperation is enabled by real funds, and which accretes and declinatesreal wagering credits and/or funds based on random wagering outcomes,and whose wagering proposition is typically regulated by gaming controlbodies. For the purposes of this disclosure, the fundamentals of themechanisms of play of a slot machine should be thought of as RW.

A random number generator (RNG) 138 includes software and/or hardwarealgorithms and/or processes that are used to generate random orpseudorandom outcomes. A level n real-world credit pay table (tableLn-RC) 140 is a table that can be used in conjunction with a randomnumber generator to dictate the real world credits (RC) earned as afunction of game play and is analogous to the pay tables used in aconventional slot machine. Table Ln-Rc payouts are independent of playerskill. There may be one or a plurality of table Ln-Rc pay tablescontained in a gambling game, the selection of which may be determinedby game progress a player has earned, and bonus rounds, which a playermay be eligible for. Real world credits (RC) are credits analogous toslot machine game credits, which are entered into a gambling game by theuser, either in the form of hard currency or electronic funds. RCs canbe decremented or augmented based on the outcome of a random numbergenerator according to the table Ln-Rc real world credits pay table,independent of player skill. In certain embodiments, an amount of RC canbe required to enter higher ESE game levels. RC can be carried forwardto higher game levels or paid out if a game cash out is opted for by aplayer. The amount of RC required to enter a specific level of the game“level n” need not be the same for each level.

In many embodiments, the GWE 110 manages the overall hybrid gameoperation, with the RWE 108 and the ESE 122 effectively being supportunits to the GWE 110. In several embodiments, the GWE 110 containsmechanical, electronic and software system for an entertainment game.The GWE includes a game world (GW) game operating system (OS) 144 thatprovides control of the entertainment game.

In some embodiments, the GWE also manages game world credits (GWCs) thatare player and/or game GW points earned or depleted as a function of aplayer's skill or player performance in the context of an entertainment(i.e. ESE) game. GWC is analogous to the “score” in a typical videogame. Any given entertainment game may have a scoring criterion nativeto its makeup, and methods for utilizing this score in the context ofthe bonus jackpot hybrid game may be embedded within a table Ln-GWC thatreflects player performance against the goal(s) of the entertainmentgame. In some embodiments, GWC may be fungible between hybrid games, andmay be carried forward from one level of game play to another in anygiven entertainment game. There may be one or more types of GWC presentin a bonus jackpot hybrid game. GWC may be ultimately paid out invarious manners such as directly in cash and goods prizes, or indirectlysuch as consumed or benchmarked for earning entrance into a sweepstakesdrawing, or earning participation in a tournament with prizes, orindirectly by purchases and redemptions within the GW entertainment gamecontext. In many embodiments, GWC may be utilized to determine rankingof players, and winners in tournaments. In some embodiments, GWC may beattributed to a specific player or player's avatar in the GW, may bestored on a system under a player account for accumulation over time andretrieval, and/or may be stored on a card or other transportable media.

The GWE additionally contains a level “n” game world credit pay table(table Ln-GWC) 146 indicating where to take input from this table toaffect the play of the entertainment game. The GWE can further couple tothe RWE 108 to determine the amount of RC available on the game andother metrics of wagering on the gambling game (and potentially affectthe amount of RC in play on the RWE 108). The GWE additionally containsvarious audit logs and activity meters (such as the GWC meter 148). TheGWE can also couple to a centralized server for exchanging various datarelated to the player and their activities on the game. The GWEfurthermore couples to the ESE 122.

In many embodiments, a level “n” game world credit pay table (tableLn-GWC) 146 dictates the GWC earned as a function of player skill in thenth level of the game. The payouts governed by this table are dependentupon player skill and game play at large and may or may not be coupledto a random number generator. In several embodiments, game world credits(GWC) are player points earned or depleted as a function of playerskill, i.e. as a function of player performance in the context of thegame. GWC is analogous to the “score” in a typical video game. Each gamehas one or more scoring criterion, embedded within the table Ln-GWC 146that reflects player performance against the goal(s) of the game. GWCcan be carried forward from one level of game play to another, andultimately paid out in various manners such as directly in cash, orindirectly such as earning entrance into a sweepstakes drawing, orearning participation in, or victory in, a tournament with prizes. GWCmay be stored on a player tracking card or in a network-based playertracking system, where the GWC is attributed to a specific player.

In some embodiments, the operation of the GWE 110 does not affect theRWE's 108 gambling operation except for player choice parameters thatare allowable in slot machines today, such as the wager amount, how fastthe player wants to play (by pressing a button or pulling the slot'shandle), agreement to wager into a bonus round, etc. In this sense, theRWE provides a fair and transparent, non-skill based gamblingproposition co-processor to the GWE. In the illustrated embodiment, thecommunication link shown between the GWE 110 and the RWE 108 allows theGWE 110 to obtain information from the RWE 108 as to the amount of RCavailable in the gambling game. The communication link can also convey anecessary status operation of the RWE (such as on-line or tilt). Thecommunication link can further communicate the various gambling controlfactors, which the RWE 108 uses as input, such as the number of RCconsumed per game or the player's election to enter a jackpot round.

In FIG. 1, the GWE 110 is also shown as connecting to the player's userinterface directly, as this may be necessary to communicate certainentertainment game club points, player status, control the selection ofchoices and messages which a player may find useful in order to adjusttheir entertainment game experience or understand their gambling statusin the RWE 108.

In various embodiments, the ESE 122 manages and controls the visual,audio, and player control for the entertainment game. In certainembodiments, the ESE 122 accepts input from a player through a set ofhand controls, and/or head, gesture, and/or eye tracking systems andoutputs video, audio and/or other sensory output to a user interface. Inmany embodiments, the ESE 122 can exchange data with and accept controlinformation from the GWE 110. In several embodiments an ESE 122 can beimplemented using a personal computer (PC), a mobile device such as asmartphone, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a SonyPlayStation® (a video game console developed by Sony ComputerEntertainment of Tokyo Japan), or Microsoft Xbox® (a video game consoledeveloped by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.) running a specificgame program.

The ESE 122 operates mostly independently from the GWE 110, except thatvia their interface, the GWE 110 may send certain GW game controlparameters to the ESE 122 to affect the entertainment game's play, suchas (but not limited to) what level of character to be used, changing thedifficulty level of the game, changing the type of game object, such asa gun or a car, in use, requesting potions to become available or to befound by the character, etc. The ESE 122 can accept this input from theGWE 110, make adjustments, and continue the play action all the whilerunning seamlessly from the player's perspective. The ESE's 122operation is mostly skill based, except for where the ESE's algorithmmay inject complexities into the game by chance in its normal operationto create unpredictability in the entertainment game. Utilizing thisinterface, the ESE may also communicate player choices made in the gameto the GWE 110, such as selection of a different gun, the player pickingup a special potion in the GW environment, etc.

In other embodiments, operation of an entertainment game of a bonusjackpot hybrid game by a player consumes one or more enabling modules orelements (EEs) within the entertainment game. An EE is a module orelement that is consumed by, traded or exchanged in, operated upon, orused to enable the entertainment game portion of the bonus jackpothybrid game. There may be one or more types of EE present in the bonusjackpot hybrid game's entertainment game. Examples of EE include bulletsin a shooting game, fuel in a racing game, letters in a word spellinggame, downs in a football game, potions in a character adventure game,character health points, etc. The GWE can associate consumption of an EEwith the commitment or wager of RC to a gambling game of the bonusjackpot hybrid game whereby commitment or wagering of the RC in thegambling game is coordinated with the consumption of the EE in theentertainment game because of actions of the player. Furthermore, theGWE can provide an increment or decrement of EE available to the playerin coordination with the gambling outcome of the gambling game such asby incrementing the EE when RC is won or decrementing EE when RC islost.

The GWE's job in this architecture, being interfaced thusly to the ESE,is to allow the transparent coupling of entertainment software to a fairand transparent random chance gambling game, providing a seamlessperspective to the player that they are playing a typical popularentertainment game (which is skill based). In certain embodiments, theESE 122 can be used to enable a wide range of games including but notlimited to popular titles from arcade and home video games, such as butnot limited to Gears of War (a third person shooter game developed byEpic Games of Cary, N.C.), Time Crisis (a shooter arcade game developedby Namco Ltd of Tokyo, Japan), or Madden Football (an American footballvideo game developed by EA Tiburon of Maitland, Fla.), etc.). Providersof such software can provide the previously described interface by whichthe GWE 110 can request amendments to the operation of the ESE softwarein order to provide the seamless and sensible operation of the bonusjackpot hybrid game as both a gambling game and an entertainment game.

In several embodiments, the RWE 108 can accept a trigger to run agambling game in response to actions taken by the player in theentertainment game as conveyed by the ESE 122 to the GWE 110, or astriggered by the GWE 110 based on the GWE's control logic, in thebackground to the overall game from the player's perspective, and canprovide information to the GWE 110 to expose the player to certainaspects of the gambling game, such as (but not limited to) odds, amountof RC in play, and amount of RC available. The RWE 108 can acceptmodifications in the amount of RC wagered on each individual gamblingtry, or the number of games per minute the RWE 108 can execute, entranceinto a bonus round, and other factors, all the while these factors cantake a different form than that of a typical slot machine. An example ofa varying wager amount that the player can choose might be that theyhave decided to play with a more powerful character in the game, orhaving a more powerful gun, a better car, etc. These choices canincrease or decrease the amount wagered per individual gambling game, inthe same manner that a standard slot machine player may decide to wagermore or less credits for each pull of the handle. In severalembodiments, the RWE 108 can communicate a number of factors back andforth to the GWE 110, via their interface, such as an increase ordecrease in a wager being a function of the player's decision making asto their operational profile in the entertainment game (i.e. power ofthe character, gun selection, car choice, etc.). In this manner, theplayer is always in control of the per game wager amount, with thechoice mapping to some parameter or component which is applicable to theentertainment game experience of the bonus jackpot hybrid game. In aparticular embodiment, the RWE operation can be a game of chance runningevery 10 seconds where the amount wagered is communicated from the GWE110 as a function of choices the player makes in the operation profilein the entertainment game such as those cited above.

In many embodiments, a bonus jackpot hybrid game integrates a video gamestyle gambling machine, where the gambling game (i.e. RWE 108 and RC) isnot player skill based, while at the same time allows players to usetheir skills to earn club points which a casino operator can translateto rewards, tournaments opportunities and prizes for the players. Theactual exchange of monetary funds earned or lost directly from gamblingagainst a game of chance, such as a slot machine, is preserved. At thesame time, a rich environment of rewards to stimulate “garners” can beestablished with the entertainment game. In several embodiments, thebonus jackpot hybrid game can leverage very popular titles with“garners” and provides a sea change environment for casinos to attractplayers with games that are more akin to the type of entertainment,which a younger generation desires. In various embodiments, players canuse their skill towards building and banking GWC, which in turn can beused to win tournaments and various prizes as a function of their“garners” prowess. Numerous embodiments minimize the underlying changesneeded to the aforementioned entertainment software (Gears of War,etc.), for the bonus jackpot hybrid game to operate within anentertainment game construct, thus making a plethora of complex gametitles and environments, rapid and inexpensive to deploy in a gamingenvironment.

In various embodiments, a system is provided that effects theintegration of modules or elements allowing players to utilize a newtype of slot machine game that operates on and/or accrues or consumesnew forms of currency, one such currency being legal tender or script asreal world credit (RC), another currency being game world credit (GWC),as the system integrates a traditional game of random chance playing forRC that functions in concert with a skill game playing for GWC.

In various embodiments, a bonus jackpot hybrid game can be played byusers on a wide areas network, such as the Internet, through a website(e.g. Facebook®, addictinggames.com, bodog.com, etc.) or a dedicatedapplication running on a computer such as an iPad, mobile phone, laptop,PlayStation®, or other computer device. In some embodiments, a flexiblegaming environment organizes the various modules or elements into asystem that can enable game play with a gambling component, allowingvarious combinations of the modules or elements (from one or moredistinct entities) to be organized to achieve a specific playerexperience, while providing for regulation, oversight and auditing of agaming businesses.

In some embodiments, to bring into effect an instance of a bonus jackpothybrid game on-line, a number of modules or elements are present. Theseinclude an entertainment software engine (ESE), that provides richmulti-media output of high entertainment value to the player, a gameworld engine (GWE), and a real world engine or (RWE).

In various embodiments, all of these modules or elements of a bonusjackpot hybrid game can be present in a single physical game located onthe floor of a casino. In other embodiments, each of these modules orelements (or a subset of them) can be distributed across servers thatare not physically coincident. In some of these embodiments, thesemodules or elements can be dynamically organized, or put another way,mixed, to alter the implementation of the bonus jackpot hybrid game inresponse to the desires of the player or the company or companies thatcontrol various embodiments of the value chain related to providing endusers with a complete gaming experience while providing that regulatoryand auditing requirements are met.

In some embodiments, the ESE, GWE and RWE can be resident on one or morecomputers and tied together inextricably (i.e. the software in eachinstance of the aforementioned modules or elements is programmed toconnect to a specifically named module or element of each other) toprovide the functionality necessary to implement the bonus jackpothybrid game. In this embodiment, regulating and auditing of the systemis achieved through the functionality of the various modules or elementsmaking up the bonus jackpot hybrid game, and it is likely, though notnecessary, that each of these functional modules or elements are underthe control of a single entity that is effectively delivering the entiregame experience to the end user. A real world (RW) and game world (GW)user interfaces could, for example, share a single window in aweb-browser, or operate through separate windows in a web browser. Insome embodiments, a game world includes an entertainment portion of abonus jackpot hybrid game and is made up of information typicallyassociated with a virtual entertainment environment, including the bonusjackpot hybrid game's visual and logical game space, game state, gamecharacters, progress points and scores. For the purposes of thisdisclosure, typical games played on a gaming console, such as a SonyPlayStation®, or a PC could be thought of as in the GW.

They could also take the form of more freestanding web-enabled appsresident on a mobile device or other computer.

In other embodiments, the various functional modules or elements are nottied together inextricably but rather can be organized dynamically inresponse to commands from a control layer, thereby allowing a specificcombination of ESE, GWE, RWE (and also potentially a game world creditexchange (GWCE)) to be organized dynamically in response to inputprovided from one or more parties (e.g. the player, the operator of thesite through that the player interfaces to the game, a provider ofgambling services, regulatory bodies, etc.). In some embodiments, thisdynamic organization can be undertaken as often as every game sessionthat is commenced by a player, or much less frequently (i.e. a web siteoperator, provider of gambling services, regulatory body, and/or otherparties may establish a more “permanent” arrangement that persistsacross a fixed period of time).

Various hybrid games are discussed in Patent Cooperation TreatyApplication No. PCT/US11/26768, filed Mar. 1, 2011, entitled “ENRICHEDGAME PLAY ENVIRONMENT (SINGLE and/or MULTI-PLAYER) FOR CASINOAPPLICATIONS” and Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No.PCT/US11/63587, filed Dec. 6, 2011, entitled “ENHANCED SLOT-MACHINE FORCASINO APPLICATIONS” each disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. The RWE, GWE and ESE are also discussedfurther below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an implementation of a bonus jackpot hybridgame in a casino in accordance with an embodiment. In the figure, thebonus jackpot hybrid game 700 components, RWE 702, ESE 704 and GWE 706are bordered by the dashed line. Also pictured in the diagram are anumber of other peripheral systems, such as player management, casinomanagement, regulatory, and hosting servers that may be present in suchan implementation. FIG. 2 also illustrates various other systems, whichmay reside outside the bounds of the casino and are connected to theframework via communications network, such as the Internet 705, depictedby the connection lines past the casino firewall 708. It should beunderstood that FIG. 2 does not attempt to illustrate all servers andsystems to which a bonus jackpot hybrid game 700 might be inevitably beconnected, and indeed one might expect there would be others, but ratherprovides an example of a set of a sub-set of systems which would bepresent in an installation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another implementation of a bonus jackpothybrid game in accordance with an embodiment. Pictured are variouscomponents that under one implementation are the GWE 802, the ESE 803and the RWE 804. In the figure, note that the GWE is comprised of twosub-components, a local GWE server 814, and a cloud server 815.(components within the dash line area 801). In the figure, certain ofthe components are located within the bounds of the casino, namely theRWE 804, the ESE 803 and a portion of the GWE 802, namely the local GWEserver 814. The Cloud Server GWE 815 is located in the cloud connectedto the casino bounded hybrid game components via communications networksuch as the Internet 805.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of another implementation of a bonus jackpot hybridgame in accordance with an embodiment. In the diagram, a bonus jackpothybrid game 901 is composed of various components connected together bya communications network, such as the Internet 905. In this particularaspect, the ESE 903 is made up of sub components consisting of a typicalhome video game console 956 (or other types of home gaming computer)coupled to an ESE hosting server 951 which in this example provides forcommunity and head to head play among multiple players on connectedconsoles 956, reflected in the diagram by the pictured second player andvideo game console. Also shown, is a UI 955 coupled to the video gameconsole 956 to provide for a player 980 interface. The other coremodules or elements of a bonus jackpot hybrid game are also pictured,namely the GWE 902 in the form of a cloud server, and the RWE 904 in theform of a cloud server. It should be noted that the FIG. 9implementation is the bonus jackpot hybrid game architectureaccomplished primarily in the cloud, functionally equivalent to the landbased and semi-land based solutions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

There are many possible permutations of how a bonus jackpot hybrid gamecould be constructed, with FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 showing only three possiblepermutations and provided as examples, which are not intended to suggestlimitations to the forms of the architecture. Other embodiments includea version where the entire hybrid game is in the cloud with only aclient running on player terminal within the bounds of the casino, or aversion where the RWE and GWE are casino bound and the ESE exists in thecloud, accessed by a client running on a terminal in the casino.

FIG. 5 illustrates an overview of a credit system of a bonus jackpothybrid game in accordance with an embodiment. In the figure, the player1080 commences interaction with the game by contributing one or more ofthree types of credits to the game, the three being: (i) RC 1081 whichis a currency fungible instrument, (ii) GWC 1083 which are game worldcredits, and (iii) EE 1082 which is the enabling module or element ofthe entertainment portion of the game running on the ESE. An enablingmodule or element is an module or element of an entertainment game is anmodule or element of the entertainment game that is consumed by, tradedor exchanged in, operated upon, or used to enable the entertainment gameportion of the bonus jackpot hybrid game. There may be one or more typesof EE present in a bonus jackpot hybrid game's entertainment game.Examples of EE include bullets in a shooting game, fuel in a racinggame, letters in a word spelling game, downs in a football game, potionsin a character adventure game, character health points, etc.

The contribution of one or more of these modules or elements may beexecuted by insertion into the game of currency in the case of RC,and/or transferred in as electronic credit in the case of any of the RC,GWC and EE. Electronic transfer in of these credits may come via a smartcard, voucher or other portable media, or as transferred in over anetwork from a patron server or hybrid game player account server. Incertain implementations, these credits may not be transferred into thebonus jackpot hybrid game, but rather drawn on demand from playeraccounts located in servers residing on the network or in the cloud on areal time basis as the credits are consumed by the bonus jackpot hybridgame. Once these credits are deposited, or a link to their availabilityis made, the bonus jackpot hybrid game has them at its disposal to usefor execution of the game. Generally, the RC is utilized by andaccounted for by the RWE 1004, and the EE 1082 and GWC 1083 are utilizedand accounted for by the GWE and/or the ESE.

FIG. 6 shows a credit flow and management in a bonus jackpot hybrid gamein accordance with an embodiment. Pictured in the figure are hybrid gamemodules or elements RWE, GWE and ESE, and the three types of credits,RC, EE and GWC as previously described. In FIG. 11, the following stepsoccur in credit flow and management:

TABLE 1 Hybrid Game Credit Flow and Management a the player performs anaction or makes a decision through the game UI b the ESE signals the GWEof the player decision or action taken c the GWE signals the ESE as tothe amount of EE that will be consumed by the player action or decision.This signaling configures function 990 to control the EE consumption,decay or addition d the ESE consumes the amount of EE designated by theGWE to couple to the player action e the GWE signals the RWE as to theprofile of the wager proposition associated with the particular action,and triggers the wager f the RWE consumes RC for the wager and executesthe wager g the RWE returns RC depending on the outcome of the wager hthe RWE informs the GWE as to the outcome of the wager i The GWE signalsthe ESE to add additional (or subtract, or add 0) EE to one or more ofthe EEs of the ESE entertainment game. This is reflected as function 990in the figure. j The ESE reconciles the EE(s) of the entertainment game.k The ESE signals the GWE as to its updated status, and the GWE signalsthe ESE to add additional (or subtract, or add 0) GWC to one or more ofthe GWC of the ESE entertainment game. This is reflected in function 991in the figure. L The ESE reconciles the GWC(s) of the entertainmentgame.

The credit flow according to the method described above, can beillustrated by the following example in a first person shooter game,such as Call of Duty® again using the same hybrid game sequence:

TABLE 2 Example Hybrid Game Credit Flow and Management a the playerselects a machine gun to use in the game. The player fires a burst at anopponent. {the player performs an action or makes a decision through thegame UI} b the ESE signals the GWE of the player's choice of weapon,that a burst of fire was fired, and the outcome of whether the playerhit the opponent with the burst of fire. {the ESE signals the GWE of theplayer decision or action taken} c the GWE processes the information inb above, and signals the ESE to consume 3 bullets (EE) with each pull ofthe trigger. +{the GWE signals the ESE as to the amount of EE that willbe consumed by the player action or decision. This signaling configuresfunction 990 to control the EE consumption, decay or addition} d the ESEentertainment game consumes 3 bullets (EE) since the trigger was pulled.{the ESE consumes the amount of EE designated by the GWE to couple tothe player action} e the GWE signals the RWE that 3 credits (RC) are tobe wagered to match the 3 bullets (EE) consumed, on a particular paytable (table Ln- RC) as a function how much damage the player inflictedon his/her opponent. {the GWE signals the RWE as to the profile of thewager proposition associated with the particular action, and triggersthe wager} f the RWE consumes the 3 credits for the wager and executesthe specified wager {the RWE consumes RC for the wager and executes thewager} g the RWE determines that the player hits a jackpot of 6 credits,and returns these 6 credits (RC) to the credit meter. {the RWE returnsRC depending on the outcome of the wager} h the RWE informs the GWE that3 credits (RC) net, were won {the RWE informs the GWE as to the outcomeof the wager} i the GWE signals the ESE to add 3 bullets (EE) to theplayer's ammo clip {The GWE signals the ESE to add additional (orsubtract, or add 0) EE to one or more of the EEs of the ESEentertainment game. This is reflected as function 990 in the figure} jthe ESE adds back 3 bullets (EE) to the player's ammo clip in theentertainment game. This may take place by directly adding them to theclip, or may happen in the context of the entertainment game, such asthe player finding extra ammo on the ground or in an old abandoned ammodump. {The ESE reconciles the EE(s) of the entertainment game} k The GWElogs the new player score (GWC) in the game (as a function of thesuccessful hit on the opponent) based on ESE signaling, and signals theESE to add 2 extra points to their score since a jackpot was won. {TheESE signals the GWE as to its updated status, and the GWE signals theESE to add additional (or subtract, or add 0) GWC to one or more of theGWC of the ESE entertainment game. This is reflected in function 991 inthe figure} L the ESE adds 10 points to the player's score (GWC) giventhe success of the hit which in this example is worth 8 points, plus the2 extra points requested by GWE. {The ESE reconciles the GWC(s) of theentertainment game.}

Note that the foregoing example in Table 3 is intended to provide anillustration of how credits flow in a bonus jackpot hybrid game, but isnot intended to be exhaustive and only lists only one of numerouspossibilities of how a bonus jackpot hybrid game may be configured tomanage its fundamental credits.

Although various components of bonus jackpot hybrid games are discussedabove, bonus jackpot hybrid games can be configured with any componentappropriate to the requirements of a specific application in accordancewith various embodiments.

Bonus Jackpots in a Bonus Jackpot Hybrid Game

FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of a bonus jackpot process inaccordance with an embodiment. In the process 200, an operator requests(202) a bonus element to be inserted into a bonus jackpot hybrid game.The operator then selects (204) a type of bonus element to provide inthe hybrid game. The operator selects (206) the features of the bonuselement. Once the bonus element is configured by the operator, the bonuselement is generated (208) within the game world. All of the players arealerted (212) to the presences of the bonus element in the game world.While the player's play the hybrid game looking for the bonus elements,the process awaits (210) a player initiated event to trigger a bonuselement encounter. If it is determined (214) that the player did not winthe bonus, the process continues to wait (210) for a player initiatedtrigger event. If the player did win, the player receives (216) apayout. In addition, the players are alerted (218) to the fact that thebonus was paid out.

In some embodiments, an operator may insert additional bonus elementsinto the entertainment portion of a bonus jackpot hybrid game. Forexample, in a multi-player shooting game, the operator may want toinclude a non-player character (NPC) to be found and that is worthadditional points, credits, improves RW waging odds, and/or otherbonuses.

In many embodiments, measures are provided in the bonus jackpot hybridgame for an operator to include a bonus element in the context of thebonus jackpot hybrid game where the outcome of the game is in part or inwhole determined by player skill and where betting as a function ofskill-related performance and/or outcomes is permitted. Each of theseembodiments can be used singularly or in conjunction with one or more ofthe other embodiments.

In numerous embodiments, an operator may want to increase interest andexcitement by inserting a bonus element into the entertainment portionof a bonus jackpot hybrid game. This bonus element may consist of aninbuilt part of the bonus jackpot hybrid game, or an entirely newfeature.

In one embodiment, multiple players may occupy the same GW space. Forexample, in a shooting game, multiple players may roam the same space,encountering each other or other GW obstacles. The operator may use thisjoint space to introduce a unique element. The competitors in the sharedspace may compete to locate, defeat, destroy or otherwise surmount thiselement and claim a bonus.

In some embodiments, the bonus element may consist of a “roamingtarget”. This target may move independently of the players and use theentire space. It may follow a set path, or a path calculated through anRNG system. For instance, in a western-style shooting game, a desperadomay travel from town to town along a set road. Alternatively, thedesperado may move from place to place without following the paths aplayer might use. The player may encounter the desperado along the road,in town or at any other location along the path.

In numerous embodiments, the bonus element does not move from place toplace, but generates at a location and stays in the same place until itis claimed by a player. For instance, in the western shooting game, thedesperado may be found in a saloon, and stays at the bar until he isdefeated. After his defeat, he may reappear immediately, after a setamount of virtual or real time, after a certain number of bets areplaced, after a certain number of players enter the GW, or any of anumber of measurements. The GW may have any number of locations wherethe desperado appears.

In some embodiments, the bonus element does not travel in the game fromplace to place, but remains in a set location for a period of eitherreal or virtual time. The bonus element may periodically appear atdifferent locations and at different times. For example, the desperadomay appear in a town for ten minutes and then disappear for an hourbefore reappearing in the same town or another location. The timebetween appearances and dissipation may be set or random. For example,during the first appearance the desperado stays for five minutes in TownA, disappears for 2 hours, and then appears in Town B for an hour, etc.

Bonus Awards

Destroying, discovering, or otherwise completing rare achievements suchas the bonus elements is itself an attraction for many gamers. However,in many embodiments, the bonus elements introduced by an operator mayhave other awards associated with them as well. These awards may includeRC, GWC, promotional items, EE, AE or other currency.

In numerous embodiments, the bonus element pays out a flat award. Nomatter how often it is generated or destroyed, any player winning thebonus receives the same amount. For example, defeating the desperadoalways pays out the same “bounty.”

In some embodiments, the value of the bonus increases in relation toreal or virtual time. For instance, in the Western-style game, thedesperado is more valuable as time goes on: he does more damage overmore time, so his bounty increases.

In many embodiments, the value of a bonus decreases in relation to realor virtual time. For example, in a fighting game, the bonus element maybe a bomb detonator. As time goes on and different bombs are triggered,the value of locating the detonator decreases.

In numerous embodiments, the value of the bonus increases in relation toan operator selected factor which may include, but is not limited to,number of players in the bonus jackpot hybrid game, amount of moneywagered, number of wagers, etc. For example, as more players enter thegame, the potential payout from the bonus may increase, thus encouragingmore players to enter competition.

Claiming the Bonus

In many embodiments, the target may be the objective for destruction,discovery, or other achievement necessary to claim the bonus. In aparticular embodiment, locating the bonus feature may be sufficient fora player to claim it. For instance, a player may need to simply find achest that generates when the bonus is available. However, there may bea second component before a player wins the bonus. For example, theplayer must find the chest, and also successfully open the chest inorder to win.

In numerous embodiments, the player has improved odds for winning thejackpot once the bonus is available. For example, in a Western-styleshooting game, a player has a 50/50 chance of successfully killing thedesperado once the enemy has been found.

In some embodiments, defeating or otherwise claiming the bonus becomesmore difficult as its value increases. For instance, the desperado maybe easily defeated when the prize is low, but when the prize is greater,he becomes far more challenging. This relationship could be linear,exponential, level-based, or based on a variety of algorithms applied bythe operator.

Processing Apparatus

Any of a variety of processing apparatuses can host various componentsof a regulated hybrid gaming system in accordance with embodiments ofthe invention. In several embodiments, these processing apparatuses caninclude, but are not limited to, a gaming machine, a general purposecomputer, a mobile device, a computing device and/or a controller. Aprocessing apparatus in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 12. In the processing apparatus 1200, aprocessor 1204 is coupled to a memory 1206 by a bus 1228. The processor1204 is also coupled to non-transitory processor-readable storage media,such as a storage device 1208 that stores processor-executableinstructions 1212 and data 1210 through the system bus 1228 to an I/Obus 1226 through a storage controller 1218. The processor 1204 is alsocoupled to one or more interfaces that may be used to connect theprocessor to other processing apparatuses as well as networks asdescribed herein. The processor 1204 is also coupled via the bus to userinput devices 1214, such as tactile devices like keyboards, keypads,foot pads, touch screens, trackballs, etc., as well as non-contactdevices such as audio input devices, motion sensors and motion capturedevices, etc. that the processing apparatus may use to receive inputsfrom a user when the user interacts with the processing apparatus. Theprocessor 1204 is connected to these user input devices 1214 through thesystem bus 1228, to the I/O bus 1226 and through the input controller1220. The processor 1204 is also coupled via the bus to user outputdevices 1216 such as (but not limited to) visual output devices, audiooutput devices, and/or tactile output devices that the processingapparatus uses to generate outputs perceivable by the user when the userinteracts with the processing apparatus. In several embodiments, theprocessor is coupled to visual output devices such as (but not limitedto) display screens, light panels, and/or lighted displays. In a numberof embodiments, the processor is coupled to audio output devices such as(but not limited to) speakers, and/or sound amplifiers. In manyembodiments, the processor is coupled to tactile output devices likevibrators, and/or manipulators. The processor is connected to outputdevices from the system bus 1228 to the I/O bus 1226 and through theoutput controller 1222. The processor 1204 can also be connected to acommunications interface 1202 from the system bus 1228 to the I/O bus1226 through a communications controller 1224.

In various embodiments, a processor loads the instructions and the datafrom the storage device into the memory and executes the instructionsand operates on the data to implement the various aspects and featuresof the components of a gaming environment as described herein. Theprocessor uses the user input devices and the user output devices inaccordance with the instructions and the data in order to create andoperate user interfaces for players, casino operators, owners, etc. asdescribed herein.

Although the processing apparatus is described herein as beingconstructed from a processor and instructions stored and executed byhardware components, the processing apparatus can be composed of onlyhardware components in accordance with many embodiments. In addition,although the storage device is described as being coupled to theprocessor through a bus, those skilled in the art of processingapparatuses will understand that the storage device can includeremovable media such as a USB memory device, an optical CD ROM, magneticmedia such as tape or disks, etc. Also, the storage device can beaccessed through one of the interfaces or over a network. Furthermore,any of the user input devices or user output devices can be coupled tothe processor via one of the interfaces or over a network. In addition,although a single processor is described, those skilled in the art willunderstand that the processor can be a controller or other computingdevice or a separate computer as well as be composed of multipleprocessors or computing devices.

In numerous embodiments, any of a gaming environment, an RWE, a GWE oran ESE as described herein can be implemented on one or more processingapparatuses, whether dedicated, shared or distributed in any combinationthereof, or may be implemented on a single processing apparatus. Inaddition, while certain aspects and features of a gaming systemdescribed herein have been attributed to a an RWE, a GWE or an ESE,these aspects and features may be implemented in a hybrid form where anyof the features or aspects may be performed by any of an RWE, a GWE oran ESE within a gaming environment without deviating from the spirit ofthe embodiments disclosed herein.

While the above description contains many specific embodiments of theinvention, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope ofthe invention, but rather as an example of one embodiment thereof. It istherefore to be understood that the invention can be practiced otherwisethan as specifically described, without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention should beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing a jackpot bonus in a gamingsystem, comprising performing, by one or more processors, the following:providing a gambling game having a randomly generated payout of realworld credits for a player's wager in the gambling game; providing anentertainment game having outcomes based upon the player's skillfulexecution of the entertainment game to earn a payout of game worldcredits; generating a jackpot bonus element in the entertainment game,wherein the jackpot bonus element roams and moves independently of theplayer within a space of the entertainment game; providing a payout ofreal world credit in the gambling game when the player initiates anencounter in the entertainment game with the jackpot bonus element; andproviding a payout of game world credit in the entertainment game in thecase the player achieves an objective in the entertainment gameassociated with the jackpot bonus element.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the jackpot bonus element is a non-player character in theentertainment game.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the entertainmentgame is played by multiple players and the multiple players compete totrigger the payout of real world credits in the gambling game byencountering the jackpot bonus element within the entertainment game. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the jackpot bonus element roams betweenlocations within the entertainment game along a random path.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the jackpot bonus element roams betweenlocations within the entertainment game along a set path.
 6. The methodof claim 1, wherein the jackpot bonus element appears periodicallywithin the entertainment game.
 7. A gaming system comprising: at leastone processor; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, thememory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor,the instructions comprising: providing a gambling game having a randomlygenerated payout of real world credits for a player's wager in thegambling game; providing an entertainment game having outcomes basedupon the player's skillful execution of the entertainment game to earn apayout of game world credits; generating a jackpot bonus element in theentertainment game, wherein the jackpot bonus element roams and movesindependently of the player within the space of the entertainment game;providing a payout of real world credit in the gambling game when aplayer initiates an encounter in the entertainment game with the jackpotbonus element; and providing a payout of game world credit in theentertainment game in the case the player achieves an objective in theentertainment game associated with the jackpot bonus element.
 8. Thegaming system of claim 7, wherein the jackpot bonus element is anon-player character in the entertainment game portion of the hybridgame.
 9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the entertainment gameportion of the hybrid game is played by multiple players and themultiple players compete to trigger the payout of real world credits inthe gambling game by encountering the jackpot bonus element within theentertainment game.
 10. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein thejackpot bonus element roams between locations within the entertainmentgame along a random path.
 11. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein thejackpot bonus element roams between locations within the entertainmentgame along a set path.
 12. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein thejackpot bonus element appears periodically within the entertainmentgame.
 13. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium storingprocessor-executable instructions for a gaming system, theprocessor-executable instructions comprising: providing a gambling gamehaving a randomly generated payout of real world credits for a player'swager in the gambling game; providing an entertainment game havingoutcomes based upon the player's skillful execution of the entertainmentgame to earn a payout of game world credits; generating a jackpot bonuselement in the entertainment game, wherein the jackpot bonus elementroams and moves independently of the player within a space of theentertainment game; providing a payout of real world credit in thegambling game when the player initiates an encounter in theentertainment game with the jackpot bonus element; and providing apayout of game world credit in the entertainment game in the case theplayer achieves an objective in the entertainment game associated withthe jackpot bonus element.
 14. The non-transitory processor-readablestorage medium of claim 13, wherein the jackpot bonus element is anon-player character in the entertainment game portion of the hybridgame.
 15. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim13, wherein the entertainment game portion of the hybrid game is playedby multiple players and the multiple players compete to trigger thepayout of real world credits in the gambling game by encountering thejackpot bonus element within the entertainment game.
 16. Thenon-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, whereinthe jackpot bonus element roams between locations within theentertainment game along a random path.
 17. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the jackpot bonuselement roams between locations within the entertainment game along aset path.
 18. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium ofclaim 13, wherein the jackpot bonus element appears periodically withinthe entertainment game.